So I have a whole ton of IP65 led strips.
The plan was to put them in a clear acrylic tubes for added protection and sturdiness.
However, the IP65 coating is extremly tacky, and makes it a pain to put through the tubes.
I also want the strips to have some give, so I can fold up the tubes (4 sections) for transport without pinching the strips at the fold points.
Anyone have any suggestions?
If you can get it: Hellerine Oil
If not: Silicon Grease as a poor mans substitute
seems like an obvious answer. lol thanks I’ll give it a go. pretty sure it’ll do what is needed.
I would tie a weight on a string to the end of the strips, then drop that down the tube and pull the strips through like that. Less mess.
Hairspray works as well, for making them slippy, it’s what I use to get heat shrink over my strips when it’s tight.
Hairspray not a good choice due to the solvents and the fact that it often ‘sets’. The solvents will make their way into components and affect their construction. Capacitors are the worst, it could take months before the effects start to be seen.
Silicon is a last resort because it can’t be removed again, not without introducing the solvent effect again.
Hellerine is vegetable based with anti mold and fungus additives and has been around for years and years. Well established product for lubrication in electronic assemblies, like sleeving. Does dissipate, so its not a long term lubricant. Unlike silicon, it can be removed.
@Robert_Atkins fishing them through is easy, but soon as the top part of the strip hits the acrylic, it sticks and is nearly impossible to just pull through after. I have to use shim to push in to separate it.
Wouldnt hairspray end up sticking afterwards?
I’ll be doing a lot of the physical build stuff this weekend, so I’ll take some pics/vid perhaps.
Yeah, it does end up sticking, but I generally don’t remove stuff once it’s in place, so it works for me. But I hadn’t really though of it as a solvent as Adam said, so I might do some tests